Automatic station



a Z w. 5 4

w c m;

N w. M C

6 T A Q 7 2 l m A INVENTOR h/M/am A. New/n WITNESSES: A4)? MW,

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 27, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFEE.

"WILLIAM L. NEWMEYER, 01' WILKDTSIBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO WEST- INGHO'USE ELECTRIC 86 MANUFAQTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION QIF PENN- SYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC STATION.

Application filed February 18, 1924. Serial No. 898,573.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. NEW- mnrnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of lVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Stations, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic stations and more particularly to protective devices to be utilized in the starting and the operation of the apparatus in automatic stations. I

One object of'my invention is to provide an automatic electrical translating station in which a rotating electrical device 1s provided with means for supplying lubricant to its bearings at a predetermined pressureator voltage rises to a predetermined value.

A further object of my invention is to provide a station, of the above-indicated character, in which the translating device is provided with an electrical heating element that is energized when the device is not running, for the purpose of maintaining the device at such temperature that its windings will not absorb moisture from the atmosphere.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a station, of the aboveindicated character, that shall be simple and economical in construction and efficient and reliable in its operation.

In practicingmy invention, I provide an electrical translating device, a source of energy for operating the same and a trans former for reducing the potential of the source of energy. The transformer has two sets of taps on its low potential windings, one for supplying energy to start the translating device and the other for supplying energy to operate the device under normal conditions. I also provide a starting circuit interrupter between the starting taps of the transformer and the translating device and a running interrupter between the running taps and the translating device.

The various features of my invention are I embodied in the electrical system which I further provide for controlling the actuation of these circuit interruptrs.

I accomplish the first object of my invention byproviding a contact-making pressure gauge for preventing closing of the starting ,circuit interrupter until lubricant is supplied to thebearings of the translating device at a predeterminedpressure.

I accomplish the second object of my invention by providing means responsive to the current traversing the translating device during the starting period, co-operating with means responsive to the voltage of the exciter generator of the translating device to prevent opening of the starting interrupter and closing of the running interrupter until the starting current and the exciter generator voltage are within predetermined limits.

For the purpose of maintaining the temperature of the translating device at a predetermined value when the device is not operating, I provide an electrical heating element disposed adjacent to the windings of the translating device, that is automatically connected through a transformer to the source of energy when the translating device is not operating and disconnected therefrom when the device is operating.

In the accompanying drawings, 4

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an electrical system in which my invention is embodied; and

Fig. 2 is a simplified schematic diagram of the same circuits in which similar reference numerals are applied to like pieces of apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, an electrical translating device 1, is adapted to receive energy from a supply circuit 2 through the circuitinterrupter-s 3, at and 5 and a transformer 6. The circuit interrupter 3, when closed, connects the supply circuit 2 to the primary windings 7 of the transformer 6. The circuit interrupter 4, when closed, connects starting taps 8 of the transformer 6 to stator windings 9 of the translating device 1. The circuit interrupter 5, in like manner, connects running taps 10 of the transformer 6 to the windings 9.

- matically in response to either voltage or 12 is closed power factor conditions in the circuit 2 and to operate under the control of such conditions.

I have not shown the apparatus for accomplishing such results but have merely shown a manually actuated switch 12 for initiating and COIItIOlliIlg the operation of the translating device 1. If it is desired to make the operation of the station auto'- matically responsive to conditions in the circuit 2, the switch 12 may be re laced by the contact members of a relay tiat is responsive to such conditions, but as the use of such a relay is well known in the art, it is not shown in the diagrams.

' When it is desired to initiate the operation of the translating device 1, the switch lit will be understood, of

. course, that the closing of this switch may be accomplished from a remote point by any other means well known in the art. When the switch 12. is closed, a circuit is completed between an electric battery 13 and the operating coil 14 of a master relay 15, thereby causing this relay to efi'ect disengagement of its contact members 16 and en agement of its contact members 17. hen the contact members 17 are engaged, a circuitis completed between the battery 13 and an operating coil 18 of the circuit interrupter 3 to cause the circuit interrupter 3 to be closed. The primary windings 7 of the transformer 6 are thereby connected to the supply circuit 2 and receive energy therefrom Engagement of the contact members 17 also completes a circuit extending from the battery 13 to a motor 19 through auxiliary contact members v20 of the circuit interru ter 5, which are engaged when the circult interrupter 5 is open. The motor 19 is thus energized from the battery 13 and begins to operate a pump 21 that is connected to the motor 19 through a piston rod .22, a connecting rod 23, a crank 24 and a shaft 25.

.The ump 21 is connected through a pipe or con uit 26 to a reservoir 27 and through pipes or conduits 28, 29 and 30 to the bear- 31 and 32 of the translating device 1.

' in S Wen the pump 21 starts to operate, i

forces lubricant from the reservoir 27 int the pipe or conduit 29, is provided with a pair 0 contact members 34 and a bridging member 35. When the pressure of the lubricant in the pipe or conduit 29 attains a predetermined value, the pressure gauge 33 to engage the contact members 34. A circuit is thereby completed extending from the battery 13 through the contact members 17 of the master relay 15, a'resistor 36, an

expands to cause the bridging member 35 operating coil ,37 of the circuit interrupter 4, a pair of auxiliary contact members 38 of the circuit interrupter 3 that are engaged when the circuit interrupter 3 is closed, the contact members 34 ofthe pressure gauge 33 and the auxiliary contact members 20 of the circuit interrupter 5.

' The coil 37 is thus energized to actuate the circuit interrupter 4 into its closed 'po-* sition, thereby connecting the starting taps 8 of the transformer 6 to the stator windings W 9 of the translating device 1. The translating device 1 now receives energy at less than normal potential from the starting taps 8 of the transformer 6, and begins to rotate.

The exciter generator 11 has an armature member 39 that is mounted'on the shaft of the translating device it and is directly driven thereby. The exbitergenerator 11 is also provided with a field-magnet winding 40 that is connected in parallel relation to the armature member 39. The terminals of the exciter generator are connected to the field-magnet windings of the translating device 1 through slip-rings 56 and 57 in such manner that the field magnets of the device 1 are excited by energy supplied by the exciter generator 11.

As the s eed of the translating device 1 increases, t e speed of the armature member 39 of the exciter generator 11 and the voltage between its terminals likewise increase. When. this voltage attains a predetermined value, the operating coil 44 of a relay 43 that is connected across the .terminals of the exciter generator 11 is sufliciently energized to cause this relay to effect engagement of its contact members 45 and 46, respectively.

One of the conductors extending from the circuit interru ters 4 and 5 to the stator windings. 9 of t 1e translating device 1 is provided with a current transformer 47 that is directly connected to the operating coil' 48 of a relay 49;" When the current traversing the stator windings 9 exceeds a predetermined value, the proportionate current traversing the current transformer 47 and the coil 48 energizes the coil 48 to a suificient Hit degree to cause the relay 49 to effect disengagement of its contact members 50. Thus,

' while a heavy starting current is traversing the stator windings 9 of the translating device 1, the contact members are disengaged, but as soon as this current falls below a predetermined value, the contact members 50 are engaged.

hen the contact members 50 are engaged. a circuit shunting the operating coil 37 of the circuit interrupter 4 is completed through the auxiliary contact members 38 of the circuit interrupter 3, the contact members 31 of the pressure gauge 33, the contact members 50 of the relay 49 and the contact members ii: of the relay 43, it being as-- sumed that the voltage of the exeiter generator 11 has risen to the predetermined value required to energize the coil 44 with suflicient strength to effect engagement of the contact members 4-5 before the contact members 50 of the relay 49 are engaged.

In the event that the contact members 50 become engaged before the contact members 45 are engaged, the circuit shunting the operating coil 37 of the circuit interrupter i will not be completed until the voltage of the exciter generator 11 rises to the predetermined value that is required for energizing the coil 44 sutliciently to cause the contact members 45 to be engaged. It does not matter in which sequence these events occur, as in either case the exciter generator voltage must rise to a predetermined value and the current traversing the stator windings 9 must fall to a predetermined value before the coil '37 can'be short-circuited.

When the coil 37 is short-circuited, because of the events described above, it is deenergized to permit the circuit interrupter 1 to return to its open position. When the circuit interrupter 1 opens, a pair of auxiliary contact members 51 are engaged to complete a circuit extending from the battery 13 through the contact members 17, 51 and 46, respectively, to the operating coil 52 ot the circuit interrupter 5. The circuit interrupter 5 is thereby closed to establish a circuit extending from the running taps 10 of the transformer 6 to the stator windings 9 of the translating device 1.

hen the circuit interrupter 5 is closed, its auxiliary contact members 20 are disengaged to interrupt the circuit extending through the motor 19 which drives the lubricant pump 21. Operation of the motor 19 and the pump 21 is thereby stop ed and lubricant is no longer supplied to the bearings 31 and 32 of the translating device 1 under pressure. It is only necessary that the lubricant be supplied to these bearings under pressure while the machine is being started, for as soon .as lubricant has been forced into the bearings with sufficient pressure to float the shaft of the machine, the

' bearings may be automatically lubricated by means of oil rings or any other well known means.

The running circuit interrupter 5 being closed, the translating device 1 is now operating under normal conditions as a synchronous motor. This operation continues so long as the switch 12 remains in its closed position. When the switch 12 is opened, however, the circuit extending through the operating coil 14 of the master relay 15 is interrupted to permit this relay to return to its tic-energized condition. The contact members 17 of the relay 15 are then disengaged to interrupt the traversal of current. between the battery 13 and all of the controlling means of the electrical system so that these means are de-energizcd to permit the station to return to its non-operating condition. This condition prevails so long as the switch 12 is open and whenever this switch is again closed, the cycle of operations above described is repeated.

hen the master relay 15 is de-energized, its contact members 16 are engaged. The primary winding 58 of a transformer 59 is thereby connected to one of the phases of the supply circuit 2. The transformer 59 has a secondary winding 60 that is directly connected to an electrical heating element 61 that is disposed adjacent to the windings of the translating device 1. When the master relay 15 is (lo-energized, therefore, the heating element 61 is energized from the supply circuit 2 to maintain the temperature of the translating device lat such a value that its windings will not absorb moisture from the surrounding atmosphere. I

As long as the station is not operating, the heating element 61 remains in its energized condition to maintain the temperature of the translating device l above a predetermined value. When the relay 15 is energized to cause initiation of the operation of the station, the contact members 16 are disengaged and the heating element 61 is no longer energized. As long as the translating device 1 is operating, there is no necessity for the heating element 61 to be energized, because the temperature of the trans lating device 1 is automatically maintained above the predetermined-value at which its windings will absorb moisture from the atmosphere.

I have now completely described the structure and the operation of an electrical system in which the various features of my invention are embodied and this description may be summarized as follows:

First, the starting circuit interrupter cannot be closed until lubricant is supplied to the bearings of the translating device at a predetermined pressure.

Second, the running circuit interrupter canot be closed until the current traversing the stator windings of the translating despecific details of construction and connec-- tions that have been shown in the drawings and described in the foregoing specification, as many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an automatic electrical translating station, the combination with a rotating electrical device provided with a lurality of bearings, means for supplying ubricant to the bearings under pressure, and means for automatically starting-the rotating device under predetermined conditions, of means responsive to the pressure of the lubricant in the bearings for precluding starting of the rotating device until such pressure attains a predetermined value.

2. In an automatic electrical translating station, the combination with a rotating electrical device provided with a plurality of bearings, a supply of lubricant, means for forcing the lubricant into the hearings under predetermined conditions and means for automatically starting the rotating de-' vice in response to predetermined conditions, of means for rendering the lubricantforcing means efi'ective directly upon the occurrence of the conditions 111 response to which the device 15 to be started, and for maintaining such effectiveness until the de-' vice and adapted to be connected to the source of energy under predetermined conditions and means for automatically maintainingthe connection of the heating element to the source of energy while the translating device is operating.

4. In an automatic-electrical.translating station, the combination with .an electrical translating device and a source of energy, of an electrical heatingelement disposed adjacent to the windings of the translating device and adapted to be connected to the source of energy under predetermined conditions and means for automatically precluding connection of the heating element to the source of energy while the translating device is operating.

5. In an automatic electrical translating station, the combination with an electrical translating device, a source ofenergy, and automatic means comprising a master relay for initiating and controlling the o eration of the translating device, of an eectrical heating element disposed adjacent to the windings of the translating device for preventing said windings from absorbing moisture while the translating device is not operating and means associated with the master relay for maintaining the connection of the heating element to the source of energy while the translating device is not operatin 6. .In an automatic electrical translating station, the combination with an electrical translatingdevice, a source of energy, and automatic means comprising a master relay for initiating and-controlling the operation of the translating device, of an electrical heating element disposed adjacent to the windings of the translating device for preventing said windings from absorbing moisture while the translating device is not operating, and means associated with the master relay for precluding connection of the heating element to the source of energy while the translating device is operating.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed-my name this 15th day of February, 1924.

WILLIAM L. NEWMEYER. 

